Game of skill



. Jul 22, 1924.

' B. E. WILSON GAME OF SKILL Filed Jan. 20. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEY July 22 1924. 1,502,365 B. E. WILSON GAME OF SKILL Filed Jan. 20. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z INVENTOR.

Patented July 22, 12224,

entrain BERTIRAM E. WILSON, OE B-GGHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF T0 JOHN R. HAUPENTHAL, OF ROCHESTER, NEVT YORK.

GAME OF SKILL.

Application filed January 20, 1923.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERTRAM E. l/VILsoN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games of Skill, of'which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a game, more particularly of the type involving a movable object such as a ball movable over a game board, and it has for its purpose to afford a structureparticularly applicable to a game of skill in which a ball is moved over a circuitous course on a game board by manipulating the board in the hands of the player.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a construction having an automatic indicator moving at a predetermined speed and adapted to be stopped when the ball or object reaches the finishing point on the game board, thereby indicating the time required for the ball to reach the finishing point.

Still another object of the invention is to afford, in connection with a movable inclicator, a series of signals such as lamps, one for each stopping point on the indicator, so as to automatically give a signal corresponding to the point at which the indicator is stopped, and dependent upon the time required for the ball to travel from the starting to the finishing points.

The invention also comprehends certain other improved features, all of which will be clearly understood from the following description in conjunction with the accom panying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a game board embodying a preferred adaptation of my in vention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the con struction Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33 of Figure l, with the ball at the starting point, and

Figure at is a view similar to Figure 3, with the ball at the finishing point.

The invention may be adapted to a variety of constructions, and the mechanism de scribed in this application is intended merely as an example of one practical embodi- Serial No. 613,955.

ment. In the construction disclosed, there is provided a stand 1, and a frame 2 mounted upon the stand 1 by a universal joint 3 which permits the frame 2 and the parts carried thereby to be manipulated in any direction without moving the stand.

The frame 2 carries fixedly mounted thereon a suitable game board provided with handles 4 and a transparent hinged cover 5. Arranged on the game board under the cover 5 are a series of partitions and openings affording a circuitous path which may be of any desired formationto afford a course over which the ball travels from the starting to the finishing points. In the arrangement illustrated, a designates the starting point and b is the finishing point, consisting of a pocket that will be referred to presently.

6 designates an indicator, preferably of circular form and arranged at the center of the board between the starting and finishing points a, b. The indicator 6 is in the general form of a dial and mounted on an arbor 7 which carries a gear 8 driven by a pinion 9 that is actuated from a spring motor 10, while 11 is a key for winding'the motor 10. The particular mechanism for rotating the indicator forms no part of the invention, as it may be operated otherwise than by av spring motor, the important factor being to rotate the indicator at a uniform and predetermined speed. The speed of rotation of the indicator 6 is sufiiciently slow so that the average player will succeed in getting the ball from the starting to the finishing points in less time than required for one rotation of the indicator, and the speed of operation of the player is evidenced by stopping the indicator 6 the moment the ball reaches the finishing point. To accomplish this, the indicator 6 is provided with a series of stopping means, preferably in the form of recesses or semi-circular pockets 12 arranged around the periphery of the indicator and cooperating with the pocket 6 at the finishing pointto afford an opening into which the ball 0 drops when it reaches the finishing point, as shown in Figure 4, thus stop )ing the indicator. It is also desirable to s ow the relative time required for the player to complete the game, and to acomplish this I provide a series of signals corresponding with the stopping points on the indicator. I

Preferably these signals are in the form of electric lamps 18 mounted on the indicator, one for each pocket 12. Each lamp 13 is connected by a conductor 14: with the central arbor 7 from which connection is made to a battery 15, while 16 is a conductor lead ing from the battery to a contact plate 17 which forms part of the pocket into which the ball drops at the finishing point. Each lamp 13 isalso connected by a conductor 18 with a conducting plate 19 which forms the remaining part of the pocket into which the ball falls at the finishing point, and the circuit is completed by the ball 0, which'is of any suitable conducting material. The various lamps or signals may be numbered from 1 to 6 or provided with other suitable indicia, to designate the different stopping points of the indicator and to show readily the relative time required for the player to get the ball to the finishing point. In order that the rotary indicator beheld normally at starting position, and after it is once released make one complete rotation and he then automatically stopped, the following mechanism is provided.

The indicator carries an abutment which may be in the form of an arrow 20, engaged when in starting position by the front end 21 of a lever pivoted at 22, and having a tail piece that is recessed at 23 to receive the ball 0, as shown in Figure 3. 24; is a spring acting to move the front end of the lever downvwardly to the position shown in Figure 4:

when the ball'is moved away from starting position, and 25 is'a second abutment beneath the abutment 20,,and carried by the indicator for engaging the front end 21 of the levenwhen in its lowermost position, as shown in Figure 4.

' Theoperation of the mechanism briefly is as follows: Normally the parts are in the position illustrated in Figure 2, the motor 10 being wound and the indicator 6 under tension but held against movement by the front end 21 of the pivoted lever, the ball 6 serving to hold the lever in this position. As

soon as the player commences to manipulate the board,'the ball ordropsout of the pocket 23 and the spring 24 moves the lever to the position shown in Figure 1, whereupon the indicator commences to rotate slowly at a uniform speed. The player manipulates the board so as to move the ball as quickly as possible over the circuitous course to brlng I the ball to the finishing point, whereupon, as

soon as one of the pockets 12 of the indicator reaches a position adjacent'to the pocket Z),

the ball 0 drops therein and stops the indicater, at the same time lighting the lamp corresponding to the pocket 12 whichis then at the finishing point. The game may be played by giving each playera prize deter mined by the lamp which he succeeds in lighting; or the relative skill of several players can be determined by their successively operating the board and a comparison of the results, as indicated by the lamps that are lighted, or by any other suitable signals that will show at what point each player stops the indicator. To prepare the board for again playing the game, the cover 5 is thrown back, the ball a removed from the shown in FigurcS, and the indicator moves 1;

slightly ahead until the abutment or arrow 7 2O strikes the front end 21 of the lever as shown in Figure 3, and the parts are then in position for repeating the play.

While the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is not limited to the precise details disclosed, and this application is intended to cover any modifications or departures com-.

in within the generalpurpose of the improvement or the scope of the following claims.

I claim: v

'1. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, an object movable overthe board-from the starting to the finishing points, and means operating automatically to indicate the time required for the object to travel from the starting to the finishing point. 7

2. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, an object movable over the board from the starting to the finishing points by manipulating the board, and means operatingautomatically to indicate the time required by the player in moving the object from the starting to the finishing points. V

3. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, an object movable over the board from the starting to the finishing points, and a movable indicator operated at a predetermined speed and arranged sons to be stopped by the objectwhen the latter reaches the finishing point.

4. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, an object movable over the board from the starting tothev indicator whenthe object reaches the 'finish ing point.

6. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, anobject movable over the board from the starting to the finishing points, a rotaryindicator operated at predetermined speed and having a series of stopping means around its periphery, said stopping means being selectively engageable by the object to stop the indicator when the object reaches the finishing point, an electric signal for each stopping means, and devices acting automatically to close the circuit to the signal corresponding to the point at which the indicator stops.

7. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, an object movable over the board from the starting to the finishing points, and a rotary indicator operated at predetermined speed and having a series of pockets around its periphery, said pockets being selectively engaged by the object to stop the indicator when the object reaches the finishing point.

8. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, an object movable over the board from the starting to the finishing point, a rotary indicator operated at predetermined speed and having a series of pockets around its periphery said pockets being selectively engaged by the object to stop the indicator when the object reaches the finishing point, and a signal for each pocket, the object acting when it reaches the finishing point to complete the circuit to the signal corresponding to the point at which the indicator stops.

9. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, arotary inclicator arranged between the starting and finishing points and movable at a predetermined speed, a ball movable over the board from the starting to the finishing points by manipulating the board, and a series of lamps arranged on the indicator, the ball acting when it reaches the finishing point to complete the circuit to the lamp corresponding to the point on the indicator where the latter stops.

10. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, a rotary indicator arranged between the starting and finishing points and movable at a predetermined speed, a ball movable over the board from the starting to the finishing points by manipulating the board, a series of lamps arranged on the indicator, the ball acting when it reaches the finishing point to complete the circuit to the lamp corresponding to the point on the indicator when the latter stops, and means for automatically stopping the indicator after it completes one rotation.

11. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, a rotary indicator arranged between the starting and fin ishing points and movable at a predetermined speed, a ball movable over the board from the starting to the finishing points by manipulating the board, a series of lamps arranged on the indicator, the ball acting when it reaches the finishing point to complete the circuit to the lamp corresponding to the point on the indicator when the latter stops, and indicator locking means held by the ball when the latter is in starting position and released when the ball leaves starting position.

12. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, a rotary indicator arranged between the starting and finishing points and movable at a predetermined speed, a ball movable over the board from the starting to the finishing points by manipulating the board, a series of lamps arranged on the indicator, the ball acting when it reaches the finishing point to complete the circuit to the lamp corresponding to the point on the indicator when the latter stops, and indicator locking means held by the ball when the latter is in starting position and released when the ball leaves start ing position, the indicator being automatically stopped after it completes one rotation.

13. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, an object movable over the board from the starting to the finishing points, and a rotary indicator adapted to be stopped by the object at one of several points depending on the time required for the object to move from the starting to the finishing points.

14. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, a rotary indicator arranged between the starting and finishing points and movable at a predetermined speed and a ball movable over the board from the starting to the finishing points by manipulating the board, the indicator being stopped by the ball at one of several points, depending upon the time required to move the ball to finishing position.

'15. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, a rotary indicator arranged between the starting and finishing points and movable at a predetermined speed, a ball movable over the board from the starting to the finishing points by manipulating the board, the indicator being stopped by the ball at one of several points depending upon the time required to move the ball to finishing position, and an electric signal for each stopping point on the indicator, the ball acting to complete the circuit to the signal corresponding to the point at which the indicator stops.

16. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, an object movable over the board from the starting to the *finishing points, a rotary indicator adapted to be stopped by the ball at one 01 several points depending on the time required to move the ball to the finishing point, and an electric signal for each stopping point on the indicator, the ball acting to complete thecircuit t0 the signal corresponding to the point at Which the indicator stops.

17. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, an object movable over the board from the starting to the finishing points by manipulating the board, and a movable indicator operated at a predetermined speed and arranged to be automatioally stopped When the object reaches the finishing point. i

18. A game comprising a board having starting and finishing points, an object movable over the board, from the starting to the finishing points by manipulating the board, and a rotary indicator operated at predetermined speed and arranged to be automatically stopped when the object reaches the finishing point. i t v In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name. i

BERTRAM n WI SON] 

